FNB News - Coconut Neera: Beverage with Therapeutic Potential

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BEVERAGE

Coconut Neera: Beverage with Therapeutic Potential

Monday, 01 August, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Bhagya D

Life expectancy continues to rise and along with it a rise in lifestyle diseases i.e. obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and cardio-vascular diseases (CVD). It is estimated that by 2030, India will have 23.6 million people with CVD, 40 million diabetics and 215 million hypertensive population. It is an inevitable fact that affluence is one of the causes of lifestyle diseases, which nutraceuticals and dietary supplements often address. The consumption of nutraceuticals along with their associated physiologically active components is linked to disease risk reduction. People can optimise the health-promoting capabilities of their diet by way of supplementation and by consuming foods that have been formulated or fortified to include health-promoting factors. Going for nutraceuticals and functional food is one of the innovative approach for management of lifestyle diseases. Any health benefits attributed to functional foods should be based on sound and accurate scientific criteria, including rigorous studies of safety and efficacy. Nutraceuticals and functional foods become part of an effective strategy to maximise health and reduce disease risk; only when healthy lifestyle practices are followed. Several nutraceuticals and functional foods have been formulated which require scientific evidences of their nutritional properties.

Coconut palm, botanically known as Cocos nucifera L., belongs to the family of Arecaceae (Palmae), which is an important member of the monocotyledons. Coconut is a unique tree, where every part is useful in one way or Fresh Coconut Inflorescence Sap (FCIS) or coconut Neera is obtained by tapping the unopened spadix of coconut palm.

Coconut neera is sweet, oyster white, translucent and is reported to function as a good digestive agent. Neera is a natural and non-alcoholic beverage, high in nutritional value and an instant thirst quencher. It requires neither mechanical crushing nor leaching. This palm nectar is widely consumed in India, Sri Lanka, Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. Coconut Neera is fast becoming a popular drink on account of its highly nutritive value, delicious taste and agreeable flavour. FCIS is usually consumed as a juice by local people in Southeast Asia and is also used as raw material for the production of sugar, alcoholic beverages, vinegar and acetic acid.

Production of Neera
Collection of Sap
Filtration
Preservation & Chilling to 4 degree Celsius
Treatment using clarifying agents
Deodorisation using activated carbon/bentonite
Filling in glass bottles/Al cans/flexible packages
Pasteurisation in boiling water at 95 degree Celsius

Source: DFRL

The sap is collected from the cut flower of the palm. A container is fastened to the flower stump to collect the sap. The white liquid that initially collects tends to be very sweet and non-alcoholic. Neera is brought down from the top of the tree in either earthen pots or vessels. The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, and Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore, have worked together and developed a methodology of packing and preserving Neera up to 45 days in refrigerated and 30 days in ambient conditions.

Technological Developments
Neera can be hygienically processed to a natural health drink. Quality of raw Neera determines the quality of drink processed. So, raw Neera of pH above 5 is always preferred for Neera drink. Raw Neera is centrifuged, pasteurised and packed in aseptic conditions to produce Neera drink. Since coconut Neera is highly susceptible to fermentation preservation techniques namely pasteurisation and clarification are done to remove the antifermenting solution (AFS) used. Chilled condition is required for the storage of Neera. So, Neera is transported to the processing sites in chillers/ iceboxes. On an average, a palm yields about 1.5 - 2 litre of Neera. To produce good quality Neera, it is necessary that all containers and vessels used should be clean at all times.

Composition

Nutrients	g/100 ml
Total Solids	15.2-19.7
pH	3.9-4.7
Specific Gravity	1.058-1.077
Total Sugars	14.40
Total Ash	0.11-0.41
Citric Acid	0.50
Alcohol	Nil
Iron	0.15
Phosphorous	7.59
Ascorbic Acid	16-30
Total Protein	.23-.32

Source: CFTRI

Fresh coconut sap from the cut inflorescence has 12-15% of sucrose (by weight) and trace amount of glucose, fructose, maltose and raffinose. It is naturally rich in Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron and is a natural source of 12 of the essential vitamin B complex and vitamin C. The sap contains approximately 0.23% protein, 0.02% fat and is rich in Na and K content. The vitamin C content of FCIS is 20.4 mg/L. The total phenolic content of FCIS is 0.33 g/L. It contains phenolic compounds namely Gallic acid (350 ± 1.36), protocatechuic acid (86 ± 0.37), Cafeic acid (56 ± 0.21) , p-Coumaric acid (27 ± 0.13) and Galangin (100 ± 0.65). The typical flavour components retained in clarified Neera are ethyl lactate, phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1-hexanol, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, 3-hydroxy-2-pentanone and 2-hydroxy-3-pentanone (Food chemistry, 2007).

Therapeutic Properties
Neera is diabetic-friendly due to low Glycemic Load (1.0)/Glycemic Index (35)(Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 2007). Glycemic Index should be taken into account when we decide the quality of carbohydrate in a food item. A glycemic index value therefore tells us how rapidly a particular carbohydrate turns into sugar. The glycemic load (GL) takes both quality and the quantity of carbohydrate content of the foods into account. Low glycemic foods contain unrefined, complex carbohydrates that break down into glucose more slowly and allow for a slower release of usable energy. Therefore it is better for controlling blood sugar levels in the body.

Neera is rich in minerals and vitamins and it contains glutamic acid necessary for protein synthesis. Lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising and eating a healthy low-GI diet may help protect against cancer at least partly by lowering insulin level which is reported to be a cellular growth factor which increases the risk of breast cancer, pancreas and so on.

Coconut Neera enhances mental development, the vitality, immune system and production of red blood cells due to micro nutrients namely zinc, iron and copper. It can be used as a supplement for iron and vitamin deficiency.

Since low-GI foods are slowly digested, they provide a gradual and sustained rise in blood sugar. This keeps feeling full and satisfied and delays the return of hunger between meals which makes it suitable for obese subjects. It aids in digestive health. It is good for post-operative care due to the high level of electrolytes. Neera contain vitamins (Vit.A & Vit.C) which have antioxidant properties thereby preventing damage or death of cells.

Coconut Neera supplementation in humans 100 ml/day was found to be effective in controlling hypertension without any side-effects. Within one hour, 18± 2 mm Hg was found to be reduced among the hypertensive subjects. This may be due to the high levels of potassium (168.4mg) to sodium (90.6mg), inositol (127.7 mg) which is beneficial in reducing hypertension and cholesterol. Since high in inositol it is also good for eczema and eye abnormalities. Coconut Neera was also found to exert diuretic effect among the subjects (Bhagya & Soumya, 2016). Neera can be promoted as a health drink, as an instant energy provider, as a functional food and nutraceuticals due to its immense nutritional properties. It can also be used for formulating several nutritious dishes and products.

(The author is assistant professor, department of home science, St Joseph’s College for Women, Alappuzha, Kerala. She can be contacted at bhagyadp81@gmail.com)